Intro
Are you a mid-career rabbi or spiritual leader building a new community from the ground up?
We invite talented rabbis and spiritual leaders with at least 8 years of experience in the field to apply for the next cohort. Read on for background, eligibility, and application instructions, and use the “Notify me” button above if you’d like us to contact you when applications open for next year.
The Fellowship for Rabbinic Innovation (FRI) is a one-year fellowship for mid-career rabbis and spiritual leaders of all denominations who have at least eight years of field experience, plan to serve in the field for at least seven more years, and who seek to build the communities they wish to serve or significantly expand the reach of their current organizations
Fellows are launching or expanding new, independent initiatives or communities, or seeking to expand the reach of legacy institutions. Through a one-year practicum and didactic seminars with Atra faculty, staff, and invited experts, fellows learn the critical skills to design, develop, and scale new Jewish community projects.
What’s involved
Fellows seek to build new forms of Jewish community, and to consider new business models and revenue streams for such projects. As a natural course, Fellows’ community-building projects as originally conceived will likely change, transform, or deepen through the applied learning of the program. Fellows receive in-depth training in the principles, practices, and approaches necessary for entrepreneurial / intrapreneurial community-building. With mentoring, coaching, and peer support, fellows create, pitch, launch, and grow their ventures. Fellows will receive a $10,000 stipend, will be eligible to apply for modest seed funding, and will be given guidance as they seek revenue streams and pitch to external funders for their projects.
Through its two flagship Fellowship programs, Atra has trained 59 Jewish clergy in the past 8 years. These clergy have gone on to lead or start new communities and projects around the world. Beginning in 2020, we invited Rabbinic Intrapreneurs – those who are working within existing institutions – to participate in the program as well, provided their projects serve new populations in new ways, and do not have an expectation that these people will become “members” of their current institutions.
Program Dates
Attendance at the seminar dates below is a requirement of participation.
Click here to view the full 2023-2024 calendar
Key dates:
Kickoff Seminar:
Sunday, Sept 10 to Wednesday, September 13.
In-person — location TBA.
Mid-year Seminar:
Tuesday, January 23.
Virtual.
Closing Seminar:
Sunday, May 19 to Wednesday, May 22.
In-person, location TBA.
Workshops:
Will take place on Tuesday afternoons (ET).
Virtual. Dates and times here.
Coaching:
One to two hours per month, scheduled by Coaches and Fellows independently
Eligibility
Applicants must be ordained or invested by a seminary or yeshiva, or have an advanced academic degree in rabbinics.
Applicants must have completed at least eight years of service since ordination/graduation, and expect to serve for at least seven more years in the field.
All applicants must have conceived of a project in its early stages, and/or have a clearly defined target audience. Clergy who are new to leading an already existing start-up community or project should email us at cri@hillel.org before applying to confirm whether they are eligible candidates.
Projects must work to form relationship-driven Jewish community
- For Intrapreneurial Fellows: with a population not currently served by the parent institution
Additionally, Intrapreneurial Fellows must have:
- A salaried position at an existing institution under whose auspices they will launch their project
- Support of supervisor and key stakeholder(s) including commitment to the hours spent creating and developing the program
- A commitment of $2,500 in institutional resources towards the project
If you have questions about eligibility, contact us.
Expectations
Fellows commit to attending two in-person seminars (September 2023 and May 2024), a virtual one-day seminar in January 2022, monthly virtual workshops, and individualized coaching. The detailed anticipated schedule can be found here. [CTA Button navigates to Fellowship Calendar page]
Fellows commit to participating fully and open-heartedly as part of a diverse pluralistic cohort of clergy. All will be encouraged to use both their minds and hearts — their intellect and personal experience — in our work together. Fellows are expected to dedicate significant time and energy towards completing guided projects that further their initiative.
Fellows are eligible for a $10,000 stipend. All costs associated with participation are fully subsidized by Atra, made possible through the generous support of our donors.
Application Timeline and Deadlines
We invite talented rabbis and clergy with at least eight years of experience in the field, to apply for the third cohort.
Priority Application deadline:
March 15, 2023
Final Application deadline:
March 29, 2023
Virtual Interviews:
April 14 – May 3, 2023
Offers Extended:
End of May 2023
Program Launch:
September 2023
- Step I
Online application:
Complete an online application. The mid-career FRI application can be accessed here.
- Step II
Virtual Interview:
After submitting an application, you will be directed to VideoAsk to complete a virtual interview with pre-recorded interview questions. You will be asked to prepare and record yourself answering these questions in the time allotted. You can complete this step immediately, or save it for later, as the link will also be provided in the post-application email you receive. Please email Brittany Kahn at brittany@ooi.us if you are not able to find the link to the video interview. You will not be able to complete this step until you have submitted a written application.
Steps I and II must be completed by March 29.
Select applicants will be invited to advance to a second round interview, which will be conducted via video call.
Atra is committed to making reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities or special needs. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in this application or interview process, please contact Brittany Kahn to discuss.